Gas holder shell and method of fabricating the same



R. B. LU EBBE May 5, 1936.

GAS HoLDER SHELL'AND METHOD oF FABR'ICATING THEsAME 2 sheets-sheet 1 original Filed March 4, 1935 f m T N m w n l A May 5, 1936. R. B. LUEBBE 2,039,602

GAS HOLDER SHELL AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME Original Filed March 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ATToR'NEYf Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED sTA'riazs4 GAS HGLDER SHELL AND METHOD 0F FABRICATING THEl SAME Raphael B. Luebbe, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Stacey Bros. Gas Construction Company, Cincinnati, Ollio, a corporation oi Ohio @riginal application March 4, 1935, Serial No. 9,245. Divided and this application December 14, 1935, Serial N0. 54,525

13 Cla.

This invention relates to storage reservoirs or holders for gas, steam or easily evaporated liquid. and is particularly directed to improvements in the structure of the shell or tank of the holder,

and the method of building the same.

The present application is divisional of my copending application, Serial No. 9,245, led by me on March 4, 1935.

The type of holder in which the improved shell or tank of this invention is utilized is known as a waterless gas holder, and employs a vertically translatable piston within the shell or tank disposed in sealing engagement or arrangement with the interior surface of the shell, trapping the gas' therebeneath.

The shells are composed of plates joined together to form a cylindrical structure or a polygonal structure having a great number of sides. The number of plates necessary (for example plates approximately 51/2 ft. by 161/2 it.) will be realized when it is understood that these holders range in diameter from approximately 30 ft. to 190 ft., and. in height from approximately 60 ft. to 360 ft. From these gures it will be seen that it is possible for a large holder to incorporate as many as between two and three thousand plates, which plates maybe arranged in sixty rings or rows, each of said rings or rows being composed of approximately thirty-live or forty plates.

Heretofre it has been the practice in constructing these shells or holders to preform the plates, bending the same for the purpose of providing marginal attaching flanges. These iianges,.

throughout the entire area of the abutting facesv of the anges in the assembly of the multitude of plates used in the average holder, crevices of varying size occurred between the plates.

The curved edges forming a crevice on the inside of the holder, together with the crevices between the flanges, occasioned by failure to abut properly, permitted continuous escape of the gas, or, where a fluid seal was used, it permitted an undue ow of the iiuid. Naturally, the escape of either gas or sealing iiuid was highlyuneco- (Cl. 2li-148.2)

, nomical. Moreover, bending the plates in this manner was entirely unsatisfactory because of expense, and unless done with absolute precision, which, bearing in mind the dimensions, of the job and the number of plates required was impossible, resulting in a decidedly leaky structure. These gas holder shells fabricated of plates as de scribed were bound together by means of rivets extending through the flanges and mounted on centers approximately one and one-halt inches apart. Occasionally caulking strips have been laid in the crevlces, but this in the main has been ineffectualr in preventing leakage and of little value in strengthening the structure.

It will also be apparent that this method of fabrication and the resulting structure were ineicient for the following reason. For a given circumference, a multiplicity of plates of certain length had to be provided. Errors in the length of the plates became cumulative and the total circumference would vary in accordance with the total amount of accumulated dierences or inaccuracies in plate length.

Also, the use of rivets has been very unsatis factory for the reason that leakage occurred at the rivets, it being impossible to procure .an absolute seal. The rivets are usually placed on one and one-half inch centers through all the anges of the plates. The number of rivets used will be realized if one considers a holder say 190 ft. in diameter and 360 ft. high. y

The holders of the past have not been structurally correct for the reason that the plates have not been adequately supported and the girders have been of improper cross section, with the re sult that unevenness occurred in the holder wall because of buckling, twisting or bulging of the girders and plates, further increasing the leakage because of disruption of the joints. These structural faults, resultingl in. an uneven and leaky structure, have become even more pronounced since the advent of the dry seal gas holder. Now the interior of the shell must be free of obstructionand must be free from distortion since the piston must move freely and maintain a. perfect seal with the cylinder wall. This is true of all types of piston seals, such as the liquid seal type and the pliable gland type.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method of fabricating a. gas holder shell structure and an improved gas holder shell structure whereby all of the above described disadvantages are eliminated at a minimum of cost.

, Other objects and further advantages will be morefully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figiurei 1 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane through a portion of the circumference of a holder of the type described, illustrating the connection of adjacent plates in a row to an upright and girth girders.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the exterior of the holder, illustrating the assembly of four plates relative to the upright and girders.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. l, detailing the connection of the plates to a particular girth girder.

Figure 4 is a view of the interior of the holder, showing one complete plate and fragments of the adjacent plates as well asv the frame structure marginally supporting or constituting frames for these plates.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a gas holder, taken on a greatly reduced scale for illustrating the invention generally.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken diametrically through a gas holder constructed according to this invention and illustrating the piston mounted within the holder.

Figure 7 is a view showing a positioning peg or pin in place in an element of the framework and projecting through one lof the plates.

Figure 8 is a view taken similar to Fig. 7, but showing the pin or peg swaged within the opening of the plate.

Figure 9 is a view taken similar to Figure 7.

illustrating the peg welded to the plate.

Figure 10 is a View taken similar to Fig. '1, showing the next step, wherein the excess metal of the peg on the inner face of the plate has been ground off.

One of the concepts of the present invention may be said to reside in the prefabrication of the parts of the holder shell in the shop under precision conditions to insure accuracy in the ultimate interfltting and assembly ofthese parts, which accuracy could not be attained under field conditions.

Another concept may be said to reside in the use` of positioning pegs or interlocking means adapted for locating the plates in relation to the girders, thereby maintaining the accuracy of the shop prefabrication during the field assembly.

A still further concept may be said to reside in the integration of the plates and positioning pegs for the purpose of holding the plates securely in position on the girders for the further operations of integrating the plates and girders.

Still another concept may be said to reside in the integrating of the plates and girders, whereby the structural parts of the holder, that is, the plates, vertical girders and girth girders, become a unitary structure which is entirely leak-proof and rigid. l

A still further concept may be said to reside in the provision of caulk welding in relation to the interior wall of the holder in those cases where the nature of the piston requires a smooth unbroken interior shell surface for a perfect seal.

Otherwise stated, in its broad aspect, the inel vention resides in the following concept, mounting' the multiplicity of plates, making up the holder shell, on pegs of the framework, integrating the plates and pegs, and welding the plates and framework together to create a unitary shell structure with the result that the structure is rigid, leakproof and presents a smooth interior for unob'- structed operation of a piston therein.

In another sense the invention may be regarded in the provision of a framework providing a supporting frame for each plate on which the plate is centered and held by pegs as integral parts of the plates with a tolerance or clearance distributed between the plates during the process of mounting the plates in position, and a welded joint around each plate for securing the-plates to the framework.

The present concept resulting from an appreciation of the problems, previously set forth, resides in the following method and resulting structure. The plates employed are either flat or slightly curved, the latter in the case of a cylindrical holder. These plates are cut to uniform dimensions as accurately as is possible in a fabrication of the size. They are arranged in circumferential rows. Therefore, a certain number must be estimated for the given circumference. This is also true of height since the holders are a given height according to the number of cubic feet of gas to be stored. In estimating the number of plates in arow or a given height the plate dimensions are calculated so as to total a distance less than the given shell circumference or height. 'I'his results in a toleranceclearance which is distributed between plates. Each plate has its margin punched so that the plate can be fitted on positioning pins which are to be a part of the holder framework.

The operations are performed in the shop under conditions where greater precision is possible than in the field so that the structure, that is the framework elements and plates, may be said to be prefabricated.

The prefabricated structure is assembled in the eld in a manner maintaining the accuracy of the shop work. A minimum number of pegs and complementary apertures are provided, but suf-l ficient tov locate and hold the plate in contact with the framework of the holder which fully marginally supports each plate. The positioning pins or studs project beyond the inner wall of theY shell a slight distance affording suiflcient material for swaging or deforming of the pins to ll out the clearance in the aperture of the plate. The pins and plates are then welded together and any excess metal of the pegs which could not be crowded into the bore of the plate is ground off on the inside of the holder to present a smooth inner cylindrical wall. Thus the pins become an integral part of the plate and provide a mounting or support means which is leak-proof.

The plates are then welded to the elements of the framework which are preferably I-beams in the case of the uprights and T-beams in-the case of the girth or circumferential beams. The plates lie against the inner flanges of these beams with their edges disposed in abutment or adjacent centrally of the flanges and immediately opposite to the central webs of the symmetrical beams. The plates and beams are then welded together by welding applied along the corners afforded by the outer edges of the flange and the adjacent exterior portions of the plates.

In cases where the holder shell employs the piston using a liquid seal where considerable volume of liquid under hydrostatic pressure and constant flow is provided, there is no necessity for filling the crevice between the plates on the interior of the holder since the sealing liquid will fiow'into the crevices. However, in cases where a piston is employed which does not use a liquid seal but uses a pliable gland in snug and sealing engagement with the wall of the piston, it is practically necessary to fill the crevices, this being done by means of welding, which weld may additionally secure the plates together and is ground oi smooth after application to further maintain the smooth interior finish of the holder.

In a further manner .the concept may be expressed as existing in the discovery of a structure wherein a shell is provided which does not utilize rivets, but affords means for setting or locating each plate accurately and without resultant leakage and thereafter welding the same to the framework for rigidity and positive seal.

Referring to the drawings, the shell or holder wall is composed of a plurality of plates or sections I of rectangular shape, assembled to make up a complete wall structure. These plates are assembled ln rows, that is to say, there are a certain number of plates in each row circumferentially arranged in a certain number of superposed rows. The framework supporting the wall structure, as composed of these plates, consists of heavy columns or I-beams 4 and girth girders or T- beams 8. The girth girders 8 and uprights I are arranged so that each presents a flange disposed in a vertical plane, these flanges providing the general internal surface area of the framework on which the plates are disposed. In the present instance this shell is to be round so that 'the flanges 5 are shaped to conform to the particular curvature.

The plates are slightly arcuate to make up the cylindrical form desired. The crevices or spaces which are allowed between the 'respective plates are indicated at 2 as to the vertical spaces and as at 3 as to the horizontal spaces. It will be observed that the length of each plate is such as to span the space between the uprlghts with the margin of the plate overlapping the aforesaid flanges 5, and having its edge lying along the medial portion of the flange. Therefore, the adjacent or abutting plate edges are disposed medially of the flanges of the upright opposite to the web thereof. The same thing is true of the girth girders, each plate being of suflicient height to span the space between adjacent girth girders. Thus it may be said that each plate is supported on a framework, that is to say, each of its margins is supported on a portion of the framework, namely the flanges 5 of the respective columns.

Pegs 6 and 9 are disposed through the flanges 5 of the girders, orginally cooperating with marginal apertures i'l in the plates.

The girth girdersare cut in lengths whereby they stop short of abutment against lthe anges 5 of the uprights li. They are held in relation to the uprights by means of gusset plates or cleats ii in each case welded as at i2 to the horizontal web of the girth girders and against the web of the uprights. VThus the inner flanges of the girders are all disposed in the same cylindrical surface with their faces making up a true cylindrical form without offsets.

The pegs 5 Vand e provided in the girders upon which` the plates are mounted or positioned are spaced apart between six inches and a foot, their purpose being to locate the plates in position-on their particular frames and after the process of attachment of the pegs to the plates to hold the platessecurely in position on the flanges for welding,.f ..,After the pins or positioning pegs are integrated wlth the plates by deforming and welding das later described), the heads of the pegs prevent inward displacement and the plates are in snug yengagement with ythe inner faces of the girder flanges along their margins. Thereupon,

the plates are welded to the girders, the welding being applied in a line along the outer edgesl of the girders, that is to say, in the corners represented/by the edge of the girder flange and the plates yas indicated at 1 in the case of the uprights and i0 in the case of the girth girders.

As has been stated, the cumulative length of the plates is figured at a dimension less than the total circumferential dimension so that there will After the plates have been positioned and are held firmly against the girder flanges, the operation of welding integrates and seals the entire structure.

As to the pegs, it will be noted that there are a minimum number used. By the integrating method employed, a structure results which is leak-proof at the pegs. In other words, the peg is first inserted through an aperture il in the girder and projects slightly beyond the inner face of the plate, there being a suilicient clearance to permit ready insertion of the peg or pin therethrough, so that the plate can be easily mounted on the pins.

The pin or peg is then deformed, as shown in Fig. 8, so that it fills out the clearance in the aperture and holds the plate and pin in assembly for the operation of Welding. 'Ihe weld i4 is applied so as to integrate the pegs or pins and the plates (see Figure 9). Any excess metal remaining as at I3 after deformation of the pin or peg is ground off so that the inner face of the holder wall is smooth. 'I'he result is, considering the integral structure, a plate having a series of studs or pegs projecting from its outer face through the girders, the headed outer ends of the pegs preventing inward displacement of the plates.

If desired, asy has been pointed out in the general description, the crevice occurring between the plates along the medial portionof the anges on the inner side of the holder, may be filled by welding when an absolutely smooth interior finish is desired. This is true in the case where a piston is employed utilizing a packing gland which is pliant but which will not extend to fill up crevices. 'Ihis latter type of piston requires a perfectly smooth interior wall in order to function without permitting leakage of gas along the cylinder wall. In the case where a liquid seal is employed, particularly of the circulating type, it is unnecessary to fill these crevices with welding since the liquid will flow into the crevices and maintain the seal.V The uprights and girders are symmetrical, that is, employ central webs, so that the heat of welding is uniformly dissipated because of even distribution of the mass in the girders. The result is that distortion does not occur.

Referring to Figure 6, the piston of the gas shell for a gas holder of the type employing'a piston, comprising, the steps of: preparing plates with apertures in the margins thereof, providing a framework including -frame elements for marginally supporting each plate, incorporating pegs in said frame elements complementary to the apertures of the plates, positioning said plates on Asaid pegs against said frame elements. deforming said pegs in said apertures, welding said pegs to said plates, and grinding off all excess metal on the inner wall of the container shell.

2. The method of constructing a tank for a waterless gas' holder, comprising, the steps of preparing a multiplicity of plates with apertures in the margins thereof, fabricating a framework incorporating frame elements for each plate, mounting pegs in said frame elements complementary to the apertures in the plates, supporting said plates on said pegs, and integrating said pegs with said plates.

3. The method of constructing a holder shell for a gas reservoir of the type including a vertically translatable piston therein, comprising, the steps of fabricating a generally cylindrical lattice work of uprights and girth girders, providing a multiplicity of plates, positioning and supporting said plates on the inner side of 'said lattice work for the subsequent operations of welding by means of pegs inserted through said uprights and girth girders and said plates, with each margin of each plate supported by respective uprights and girth girders, and thereafter welding said plates to said uprights and girders.

4. The method of fabricating a shell for a gas holder of the type employing a vertically movable piston therein, comprising, the steps of preparing plates with apertured margins under precision conditions, adjusting the length of the plates so that the aggregate length of .plates when arranged circumferentially is less than the total circumference of the completed holder, fabricating a generally cylindrical framework including uprights and girth girders, spacing the uprights on -centers substantially equal to the length of each plate, positioning and initially supporting said plates on said uprights and girth girders by means of pegs for complete marginal contact with the uprights and girth girders to permit subsequent welding operations, and welding the margins of said plates to said uprights and girth girders.

5. The method of fabricating a shell for a gas holder of the type employing a vertically movable piston therein comprising the following steps: fabricating a framework of uprights and girth girders, each of said uprights and girders including an inwardly disposed inner flange with the end edges of the inner surfaces of the girders flush with the inner surfaces of the upright flange, providing a multiplicity of plates adapt- `ed to be arranged in circumferential rows within the fabricated framework, to make up a smooth shell interior surface, said plates of a length whereby the aggregate length of a given circumferential row is less than the inner circumfer- 'ential dimension of the framework, aperturing the margins of said plates and the inner anges of said uprights and girders, pegging said plates in position on the inner flange surfaces of said framework with each plate extended between adjacent uprights and overlapping the anges thereof, and each plateextending between adjacent girders and overlapping the flanges thereof, and thereafterintegrating said pegs and plates, welding said plates to said uprights and girders,

closing the crevice or space between plates by means of welding, and thereafter removing all excess metal or weld from the interior surface of the assembled plates to provide a smooth cylindrical interior for operation of the piston.

6. The method of fabricating the container of a waterless gas holder, comprising, the steps of fabricating a framework of uprights and girders, said uprights and girders having flanges disposed with their inner surfaces aligned vertically and in the same perimeter, initially positioning and supporting said plates against said surfaces by means of pegs passing through the anges of the uprights and girders and through the margins of the plates, integrating said plates and pegs, and welding said plates to said flanges.

7. The method of constructing a container shell for a gas holder of the type employing a vertical translatable piston, comprising, the steps of prefabricating the plates and framework elements under precision conditions in the shop, later in the field positioning and supporting said plates on said framework elements by means of pegs inserted through the framework elements and the margins of the plates, holding the plates tightly against the framework along their entire edge margins for the subsequent operation of welding and thereafter welding said plates to the girders. r A

8. The method of constructing a container shell for a gas holder of the type employing a vertically translatable piston, comprising, the steps of pretting plates and frame elements with complementary attaching means, pegging the plates and frame elementstogether with each plate independently centered on a particular section of framework, each plate spaced slightly in relation to adjacent plates, integrating the pegs and plates, and integrating the framework and plates.

9. The method of fabricating a gas holder of the waterless type. said holder comprising. a peripheral shell, a floating piston within the shell and a seal between the periphery of the piston and the inner face of the shell, said method comprising, prefabricating the plates which are to constitute the shell and a supporting lattice work to structural form and dimensions with complementary apertures adapted to provide the correct relationship of 'pieces when assembled, the relationship of the lattice work and plates being such that each plate will be marginally supported by four elements of the lattice work, assembling sections of the supporting lattice work serially, and mounting plates on the assembled lattice work by positioning each plate on pegs disposed in the complementary apertures of the elements A of the lattice work and plates, integrating said pegs and plates, and welding the plates to the supporting elements of the lattice work.

10. The method of fabricating a gas holder of the waterless type, said holder comprising, a peripheral shell, a.- floating piston within the shell and a seal between the periphery of the piston and the inner face of the shell, said method comprising, prefabricating the plates which are to constitute the shell and a supporting lattice work to structural form and dimensions adapted to provide the correct complementary relationship of pieces when assembled, the relationship of the lattice work and plates being such that each plate will be marginally supported by a plurality of lattice elements, assembling sections of the-supporting lattice work serially, and mounting plates on the assembled lattice work by supporting each plate accurately in relation to itssupporting lattice elements on positioning pegs extending through the elements and plates, and welding the plates te the supporting lattice elements.

1l. The method of fabricating a gas holder of the waterless type, said holder comprising, a peripheral shell, a iioating piston within the shell and a seal between the periphery of the piston and the inner face of the shell, said method comprising, prefabricating the plates which are to constitute the shell and a supporting lattice work to structural form and dimensions adapted to provide the correct complementary relationship of pieces when assembled, the relationship of the lattice and plates being such that each plate will be marginally supported by a plurality of lattice elements, assembling sections of the supporting lattice work serially. and mounting plates on the assembled lattice work by positioning each plate accurately in relation to its supporting lattice elements by means of prefabricated complementary, structural features on the lattice elements and plates, and welding the plates to supporting lattice elements.

12. In a gas holder, a holder shell of the type employing therein a vertically translatable piston in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said shell comprising a framework, plates arranged on the inner surfaces of the framework to form the shell proper. said plates initially positioned and supported on the framework for constituting the shell wall by means of pegs, said pegs integrated with the plates and engaged through the framework, and welds integrating the peg supported and positioned plates with the framework.

13. In a gas holder, a shell of the type having a piston vertically translatable therein in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said shell comprising plates and a framework girding the plates, positioning elements for initially positioning and supporting the plates on the framework to make up the shell structure with relatively slight clearance spaces therebetween, said elements adapted to hold the plates `in complete marginal engagement with the framework to facilitate an efficient welding operation, and said framework and plateswelded together to provide a leak-proof shell having an interior free of obstruction or projection.

14. A shell for a gas holder of the type employing a vertically movable piston therein, comprising, a series of spaced uprights, a series of spaced circumferential girders connecting said uprights to provide a generally cylindrical structure, said uprights and girders providing inner plate supporting flanges, the inner surfaces of which constitute portions of a cylinder, plates mounted Within said` framework having their margins overlapping said flanges and their edges disposed medlally thereof, there being one plate for each space between uprights and girders, said plates initially held in position by means of pegs disposed through the margin of the plates and the girders and uprights, which pegs are subsequently integrally jointed with the plates and support the plates in position by virtue of the headed ends of the pegs disposed exteriorly of the girders, whereable therein in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said framework fabricated of uprights and girth girders connecting said uprights, said uprights and girders including flanges on their 'inner sides; the flanges of said uprights providing uninterrupted vertical shell supporting surfaces, the girders having the end edges of their inner surfaces disposed flush with the vertical surfaces of the flanges of the uprights, plates' making up the shell, said plates initially positioned and supported on the anges of the uprights and girders by means of pegs passing through the margins of the plates and the flanges of the uprights and girders, which pegs hold the plates tightly against the flanges for the subsequent operation of welding, and welds integrating the plates and the flanges.

16. In a gas holder, a holder shell, said shell adapted to receive a piston vertically translatable therein in sealing engagement with the wail thereof, said shell comprising a framework and plates arranged on the inner surfaces of the framework to form the shell proper, said plates including studs projecting outwardly therefrom through the elements of the framework and having heads on their exterior ends for preventing inward displacement of the plates and holding the same tightly against the framework, said studs initially placed through the elements and the margins of the plates and integrated with the plates, and means sealing the joints of the plates i with the framework.

17. The method of constructing a container shell for a gas holder of the type employing a piston, comprising, the steps of fabricating a generally cylindrical lattice work of uprights and girth girders providing a multiplicity of plates. positioning and supporting said plates on the inner side of said lattice work for the subsequent operations of welding by means of pegs inserted through said uprights and girth girders and said plates, with each margin of each plate supported by respective uprights and and girth girders, integrating said pegs and plates, and thereafter welding the edges of said plates together.

18. In a gas holder, a shell of the type having a piston vertically translatable therein in sealing engagement with the wall thereof, said shell comprising plates and a framework girding the plates, positioning elements integrated with said plates for initially positioning and supporting the plates on the framework to make up a shell structure with relatively slight clearance spaces therebetween, said elements adapted to hold the plates in complete marginal engagement with the framework, and said plates having their adjacent edges welded together to provide a leak-proof shell having an interior free of obstructions and pro- DISCLAIMER I ZLQBQOZr-Raphael B. Luebbc, Cincinnati, Ohio. GAS HOLDER SHELL AND METHOD OFFABRICATING THE Sum. Patent dated Mey 5, 1936. Disclaimer filed October 10, 1936, by the assignee, The Stqcey Brothers Gas Gonstmstion Company.

Hereb enters this disclaimer to claims 12 and 16 of said Letters Patent.

[ yGazette November .3, 1936.] 

